On View
Segregation Gallery
Exhibition
Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
Created by
Unidentified
Date
ca. 1930-1940s
Medium
ceramic
Dimensions
H x W x D (2007.7.141.1): 2 15/16 × 1 15/16 × 1 1/2 in. (7.5 × 4.9 × 3.8 cm)
H x W x D (2007.7.141.2): 2 3/4 × 1 7/16 × 1 1/2 in. (7 × 3.7 × 3.8 cm)
H x W x D (2007.7.141.3): 2 3/4 × 1 11/16 × 1 3/4 in. (7 × 4.3 × 4.4 cm)
H x W x D (2007.7.141.4): 2 3/4 × 1 5/8 × 1 1/8 in. (7 × 4.1 × 2.9 cm)
H x W x D (2007.7.141.5): 2 11/16 × 1 3/4 × 1 1/2 in. (6.8 × 4.4 × 3.8 cm)
Description
2007.7.141.1:
A ceramic figurine in the form of a caricatured male musician playing the clarinet while sitting on a red ottoman. The musician is wearing a black suit with a black tie over a white shirt. The man’s skin and hair are painted the same color black as the suit and his lips are painted red. The clarinet is painted gold. There is a hole on the bottom of figurine.
2007.7.141.2:
A ceramic figurine in the form of a caricatured male musician playing the saxophone while sitting on a red ottoman. The musician is wearing a black suit with a black tie over a white shirt. The man’s skin and hair are painted the same color black as the suit and his lips are painted red. The saxophone is painted gold. There is a hole on the bottom of figurine.
2007.7.141.3:
A ceramic figurine in the form of a caricatured male musician playing a drum while sitting on a red ottoman. The musician is wearing a black suit with a black tie over a white shirt. The man’s skin and hair are painted the same color black as the suit and his lips are painted red. The drum and drum mallets are painted gold. There is a hole on the bottom of figurine.
2007.7.141.4:
A ceramic figurine in the form of a caricatured male musician playing the trumpet while sitting on a red ottoman. The musician is wearing a black suit with a black tie over a white shirt. The man’s skin and hair are painted the same color black as the suit and his lips are painted red. The trumpet is painted gold. There is a hole on the bottom of figurine.
2007.7.141.5:
A ceramic figurine in the form of a caricatured male musician playing the banjo while sitting on a red ottoman. The musician is wearing a black suit with a black tie over a white shirt. The man’s skin and hair are painted the same color black as the suit, his lips are painted red and his teeth have been painted white. The banjo is painted gold. There is a hole on the bottom of figurine.
Statement
Objects depicting racist and/or stereotypical imagery or language may be offensive and disturbing, but the NMAAHC aims to include them in the Collection to present and preserve the historical context in which they were created and used. Objects of this type provide an important historical record from which to study and evaluate racism.
Collection title
Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
Classification
Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor
Racist and Stereotypical Objects
Type
figurines
Topic
Caricature and cartoons
Minstrel (Music)
Stereotypes
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
Object number
2007.7.141.1-.5
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd514aa0e73-4270-4f06-b027-5c04c8b79b3d

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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